pamflet doth expresse One coast one course one toile might serue at ful to make declard A zeale to God with countries good and priuate gaines regarde And for the first this enterprise the name of God shall founde Among a nation in whose eares the same did neuer sounde Next as an endles runuing streame her Channels doth discharge That swell aboue theyr boundes into an Occean wide and large So England that is pestered nowe choakt through want of groūd Shall finde a soile where roome inough and perfect doth abounde The Romains when the number of their people grewe so great As neither warres could waste nor Rome suffice them for a seate They led thē forth by swarming troupes to forraine lands amaine And founded diuers Colonies vnto the Romaine raigne Th'athenians vs'de the like deuise the Argiues thus haue doone And fierce A chilles Myrmidons when Troy was ouer runne But Rome nor Athens nor the rest were neuer pestered so As England where no roome remaines her dwellers to bestow But shuffled in such pinching bondes that very breath dooth lacke And for the want of place they craule one ore anothers backe How noblie then shall they prouide that for redresse heerein With ready hand and open purse this action dooth beginne Whence glory to the name of God countries good shall spring And vnto all that further it a priuate gaine shall bring Then noble youthes couragiously this enterprise discharge And age that cannot mannage Armes let them support the charge The yssue of your good intent vndoubted will appeare Both gratious in the sight of God and full of honour heere Iohn Hawkins Maister Captaine Bingham his commendation vppon this Treatise IF honour and reward may mooue the minde By noble actions highlie to aspire The forward man in this discourse shall finde Reward and honour propos'd for hire VVhich meede no right renowmed hart mislikes Though gaind by passing through ten thousād pikes The white whereat wee leuell well is knowen The plot and place with finger poynted out The name thereof through all the world is blone To put the hard beleeuers out of doubt Our forren neighbours like it to their gaine And sucke the sweete while sleeping we remaine The iorney is but easie to bee gonne The frozen Pole disioyned farre dooth lye VVe shape our course farre from the burning Zonne The soile is subiect to a milder skye And by proofe of many recordes tride The Paradise of all the world beside Then launch ye noble youthes into the maine No lurking perrils lye amidde the way Your trauell shall retourne you treble gaine and make your names renoumed another day For valiaunt mindes through twentie Seas will roome And fish for lucke while sluggardes lye at home Richard Bingham ⧠Maister Captaine Frobisher in commendation of the voyage A Pleasaunt ayre a sweete and firtell soile A certaine gaine a neuer dying praise An easie passage voide of lothsome toile Found out by some and knowen to mee the waies All this is there then who will refraine to trie That loues to liue abroade or dreades to die Martin Frobisher Maister Captaine Chester his commendation of this Treatise MArke well this booke when you to reade beginne And finde you shall great secretes hid therein For with your selues you may imagine thus That God hath left this honour vnto vs. The iourney knowne the passage quicklie runne The land full rich the people easilie wunne VVhose gaines shal be the knowledge of our faith And ours such ritches as the country hath Pinche not for pence to set this action out Poundes will returne thereof be not in doubt Your countrey shall be bounde due thankes to giue For that the poore heereby you may relieue Vnto your Prince good seruice you shall doo And vnto God a worke right gratefull to Iohn Chester Mathew Roydon maister of Arte to his fellowe Student TO prayse thy booke because I am thy freende Though it be common and thy due indeede Perhaps it may some daintie eare offende Reproofe repines that vertue hath her meede Yet neuerthlesse how euer thinges succeede Sith to no other ende thy booke was made All that I wish is that thou mayest perswade Mathew Roydon ⧠Maister Anthony Parkhurst in commendation of this Treatise BEholde a worke that dooth reueale The ready way to welth and fame Commodious to the common weale And iust without impeache of blame VVhich followed as the course doth lie May make all Englande thriue thereby It is not fond surmisde report Nor phantasie vaine heades to feede The mention of the trueth coms short And lesser then the thing indeede Of recorde many thousandes are That can all this and more declare Howe happy were our England then Sith neither men nor shipping want Some good and well disposed men An other England there would plant And so employ a number there VVhose persons may be spared heere Th'atempt coulde neuer faile his fame Nor proofe returne without effect For commonlie all actions frame VVhere Christian cause hath cheefe respect And he that in the heauens aboue doth raigne No doubt will blesse the sequell of theyr payne Anthonie Parkhurst Arthur Hawkins in commendation of this Treatise MY freendes if at Th'exchaunge a man shoulde goe and tell that such and such commodities he had to sell. VVhereof we stood in neede and scarcelie to be founde VVhereby a quicke returne with profit woulde redounde I doubt not ere I past but you would craue the sight Of these commended wares and buy them if you might Y' are proferd at this time fayre Grapes to make your wine The pleasaunt fruites of Spaine the Figs and Orenge fine The speckled Russian Furres that Esterlings vs sendes The Rosen Pitch and Deales that Dansk and Denmarke lendes The Mettall heere is showne that with a quenchles fire Inflames our thirsting hartes vnstaunched in desire A bargaine may you haue t' is put into your handes Of all commodities you haue from other landes And at so easie price you can not choose but gaine A trifle is the most together with your paine But what is that some sayes our Englishmen giues eare Onelie to gaine God shielde it shoulde be true I heare If we religious be le ts rigge our shippes with speede And carry Christ to these poore souls that stande in neede VVhy pause yee therevpon the fraight will quite the charge For what is doone for God dooth finde rewarde full large A. H. Iohn Achelley Cyttyzen and Marchantailour of London for conclusion IF truth and praise haue power to make this matter gratious VVhat neede we then extoll the thing hath beene commended thus And by the better sorte that wright of truth and knowledge so As nothing of this worke they promised further then they know Beleeue them for they be our freendes and with our Counties weale Let vs imbrase that God and truth so loouinglie reueale VVhereof the merrit is no lesse then is the bruted Fame Aske straungers and that noble minde that did attempt the
same To whom we owe the titles that to Vertues Nimpes are due So good a Knight whom English men in vertue should persue No doubt but God will blesse th'atempt succeed him roundly then And in this Voyage follow fast you that bee English men VVith such supplie from time to time as what is well begonne Bee not for want of men and aide through slackfulnes vndoone So shall you harbour in your hartes the seedes of magnanimitie A vertue where with all the Romaines did enlarge their Empery Be you prepared for euery foe and be couragious then For that you slippe through negligence will fall to other men Enuie hath eyes to see afarre your new attempt will whet A number more to seeke therefore if you your selues forget Send foorth with speede get footing there and make prouision T is ill for vs to linger thus and talke thereof so longe Iohn Achelley ⧠The firste Chapiter wherein the Argument of the ` Booke is Contayned IT was my fortune good Reader not many dayes past to meete with a right honest and discrete Gentleman who accompanied that valiaÌ„t worthy Knight Sir Humfry Gilbert Maister Edward Hay in this last iourney for the Westerne discoueries And is owner and Captaine of the onelie Vessell which is as yet returned from thence By him I did vnderstande that Sir Humfrey departed the coaste of Englande the eleuenth of Iune last past with fiue sayle of Shippes from Caushenbay neere Plimmouth wherof one of the best forfooke his companie the thirtenth day of the same moneth and returned into England The other foure through the assistaunce of almightye GOD did arriue at Saint Iohns Hauen Sir Humfrey Gilbert did arriue at S. Iohnâ— hauen in Newfounde Land the 3. of August Anno. Do. 1583. in Newfounde Lande the thyrd of August last Vpon whose arriuall all the Maisters and cheefe Mariners of the English Flete which were in the sayd Hauen before endeuouring to fraughte themselues with Fysh repayred vnto Sir Humfrey whom he made acquainted with the effect of his coÌ„mission which being doone he promised to intreate them and their goods well and honourably as dyd become her maiesties Lieftennaunt They did all welcome him in the best sorte that they coulde and shewed him and his all such courtesies as that place coulde affoorde or yeelde Then he went to viewe the Countrey being wel accompanied with most of his Captaines Soldiers They found the same very temperate Among these there was founde the tract of a beast of â— inches and a halfe ouer but somewhat warmer then Englande at that season of the yeere replenished with Beastes great store of Fowle of diuers kindes And Fish of sundry soâ—tes both in the salte water and in the fresh in so greate plentie as might suffice to victuall an Armie and they are verie easilie taken VVhat sundrie other commodities for this Realme right necessarie the same dooth yeelde you shall vnderstande in this treatise heereafter in place more conuenient On munday being the fift of August the Generall caused his Tent to be set vpon the side of an hill in the viewe of all the Flete of Englishmen and Straungers which were in number betweene thirty and fortie sayle then being accompanied with all his Captaines Maisters Gentlemen other Soldiers he caused all the Maisters and principall Officers of the Shippes as well Englishmen as Spaniardes Portingals and of other nations to repayre vnto his Tent And then and there in the presence of them all he did cause hys commission vnder the great seale of England to bee openlie and solempnlie reade vnto them whereby were graunted vnto him his heyres assignes by the Queenes most excellent Maiestie manie great and large royalties liberties and priuiledges Sir Humfrey tooke possession of the Nâ—w found lâ—â—de in the right of the crowne of Englande The effect whereof being signified vnto the Straungers by an Interpretor he tooke possession of the sayd land in the right of the Crowne of England by digging of a Turfe and receiuing the same with an Hasell wande deliuered vnto him after the manner of the lawe and custome of England Then he signified vnto the coÌ„pany both strangers others that froÌ„ thence forth they were to liue in that Land as the Territories appertayning to the Crowne of England Three lawes established there by Sir Humfrey and to be gouerned by such Lawes as by good aduise shoulde bee set downe which in all poyntes so neere as might be shold be agreeable to the Lawes of England And for to put the same in execution presentlie he ordeined and established three Lawes Fyrst that Religion publiquely exercised should be such and none other then is vsed in the Church of England The seconde that if any person should bee lawfully conuicted of any practise against her Maiestie her crowne and dignity to be adiudged as traytors according to the Lawes of Englande The thyrd if any shoulde speake dishonourably of her Maiestie the partie so offending to loose his eares hys Shippe and goods to be confiscate to the vse of the Generall All men did verie willingly submit themselues to these Lawes Sundry persons be came Tennants to Sir Humfrey doo maintaine possession for him in diverâ— places there Then he caused the Queenes maiesties Armes to be engraued sett vppe and erected with great solempnity After this diuers English men made sute vnto Sir Humfrey to haue of him by inheritaunce they accustomed Stages standinges and drying places in sundry partes of that Land for theyr Fish as a thing that they doo make great accoÌ„pte off which he graunted vnto them in fee farme And by thys meanes he hath possession mayntained for him in many partes of that Country To be briefe he dyd lette sette giue and dispose of many thinges as absolute gouernour there by vertue of her maiesties letters pattents And after theyr Shippes were repayred whereof one hee was driuen to leaue behinde bothe for want of men sufficient to furnish her as also to carrie home such sicke persons as were not able to proceede any further He departed from thence the 20 of August with the other three namelie the Delight wherein was appointed Captaine in Maister VVilliam VVinters place that thence returned immediatlie for Englande Maister Morries Browne the Golden Hynde in which was Captaine and owner Maister Edwarde Hay and the little Frigat where the Generall himselfe did goe seeming to him most fitt to discouer and approche the Shoare The 21. day they came to Cape Rase towarde the South partes whereof lying a while becalmed they tooke Codd in largenes and quantitie exceeding the other parts of New-found Lande where any of them had beene And froÌ„ thence trending the Coast West towarde the Bay of Placencia The Generall sent certain men a Shoare to view the countrey which to them as they sayled along seemed pleasaunt VVhereof his men at theyr returne gaue great commendation likeing so well of the place as
questionles there is great hope likely hoode that by this kinde of meanes we should bring to passe all effectes to our desired purposes Considering that all creatures by constitution of nature are rendred more tractable and easier wâ—nne for all assayes by courâ—esie and myldnes then by crueltie or roughnes and therefore beeing a principle taught vs by naturall reason it is first to be put in vre For albeit as yet the Christians are not so throughlye furnished with the perfectnes of theyr language either to expresse theyr mindes to them or againe to conceiue the Sauages intent Yet for the present opportunitie such pollicie may be vsed by freendly signes and courteous tokens towardes them as the Sauages may easily perceiue were theyr sences neuer so grosse an assured freendshippe to be offered them and that they are encountered with such a nation as bringes theÌ„ benefite commoditie peace tranquillity and safetie To further this and to accomplish it in deedes there must be presented vnto them gratis some kindes of our peittie marchaundizes and trifles As looking Glasses Bells Beades Braceletts Chaines or Collers of Bewgle Christall Amber Iett or Glasse c. For such be the things though to vs of small value yet accounted by them of high price and estimation and soonest will induce theyr Barbarous natures to a likeing and a mutuall society with vs. Moreouer it shall be requisite either by speeche if it bee possible either by some other certaine meanes to signifie vnto them That once league of freendshippe with all louing conuersation beeing admitted betweene the Christians and them that then the Christians from thence forth will alwayes bee ready with force of Armes to assiste and defende them in theyr iust quarrelles from all inuasions spoyles and oppressions offered or to bee offered them by any Tyraunts Aduersaries or theyr next borderers and a benefit is so much the more to be esteemed by how much the person vppon whome it is bestowed standeth in neede thereof For it appeareth by the relation of a countreyman of ours This Dauid Ingram was in this last iourney wâ—th Sir Humfrey and is very desirous to be imployed â—â—ether againe namely Dauid Ingram who trauelled in those countries xj monethes and more That the Sauages generally for the most part are at continuall warres wyth their next adioyning neighbours and especially the Canniballs beeing a cruell kinde of people whose foode is mans flesh haue teeth like dogges and doo pursue them with rauenous myndes to eate theyr flesh and deuoure them And it is not to be doubted but that the Christians may in this case iustly and lawfully ayde the Sauages against the Canniballs So that it is very likelie that by this means wee shall not onely mightely stirre and unflame theyr rude myndes gladly to embrace the louing companye of the Christians proffering vnto them bothe commodities succor and kindnes But also by theyr francke consents shall easily enioy such competent quantity of Lande as euery way shall be corespondent to the Christians expectation contentation considering the great abouÌ„dance that they haue of Lande and howe small account they make thereof Taking no other fruits thereby then such as the ground of it selfe dooth naturally yeelde And thus much concerning the first sort of planting which as I assuredly hope so I most hartelie pray may take effect and place But if after these good and fayre meanes vsed the Sauages neuertheles will not be heerewithall satisfied The second kinde of Planting but barbarously wyll goe about to practise violence either in repelling the Christians from theyr Portes and safe Landinges or in withstanding them afterwardes to enioye the rights for which both painfully lawfully they haue aduentured themselues thether Then in such a case I holde it no breache of equitye for the Christians to defende themselues to pursue reuenge with force and to doo whatsoeuer is necessary for the attayning of theyr safety For it is allowable by all Lawes in such distreses to resist violence with violence And for theyr more securitie to increase their strength by building of fortes for auoyding the extremities of iniurious dealing Wherein if also they shall not be suffered in reasonable quietnes to continue there is no barre as I iudge but that in stoute assemblies the Christians may issue out and by strong hande pursue theyr enemies subdue them take posession of theyr Townes Citties or Villages and in auoyding murtherous tyranny to vse the Lawe of Armes as in like case among all nations at thys day is vsed and most especially to the ende they may with securitye holde theyr lawfull possession least happily after the departure of the Christians such Sauages as haue beene conuerted shoulde afterwardes through compulsion and enforcmeÌ„nt of theyr wicked Rulers returne to theyr horrible Idolatry as did the children of Israell Iudges 6. after the decease of Iosua and continue theyr wicked custome of most vnnaturall sacrificing of humaine creatures And in so dooing doubtles the Christians shall no whitt at all transgresse the bondes of equitie or ciuility for as much as in former ages yea before the incarnatioÌ„ of Christ the like hath beene doon by sundry Kings and Princes Gouerners of the children of Israell cheefely in respect to beginne theyr Planting for the establishment of Gods word as also since the natiuity of Christ myghty and pussaunt Emperours and Kinges haue performed the like I say to plant possesse and subdue For proofe whereof I wyll alledge you examples of bothe tymes We reade in the olde testament howe that after Noes fludde was ceased restoration of mankinde began onely of those fewe of Noes children and family as were by God pre elected to be saued in the Arke with him whose seed in processe of time was multiplyed to infinite numbers of nations which in diuers sortes deuided themselues to sundry quarters of the earth And forasmuch as all their posteritie being mightely encreased followed not the perfect lyfe of Noe theyr predecessor God chose out of the multitude a peculiar people to himselfe to whome afterwardes beeing vnder the gouernement of Moises in Mount Synay hee made a graunt to inherite the Lande of Canaan called the Land of Promise with al the other rich and fertile Countryes next adioyning thervnto Neuerthelesse before they came to possession therof hauing beene afflicted with many greeuous punishments and plagues for theyr sinnes they fell in dispayre to enioy the same But beeing encouraged and comforted by theyr Rulers men of God they proceeded arming themselues with all patience to suffer what soeuer it shoulde please God to sende and at last attaining to the Lande they were encouÌ„tered with great numbers of strong people and myghtye Kinges Notwithstanding Iosua 4. Iosua theyr leader replenished with the spirite of God beeing assured of the iustnes of his quarrell gathered the cheefe strength of the children of Israell together to the number of 40000. with whom he safely passed the huge Riuer Iourden and
of 12. or 14. yeeres of age or vnder may bee kept from ydlenes in making of a thousand kindes of trifeling thinges which will be good Marchandize for that Country And moreouer our ydle women which the Realme may well spare shal also bee imployed on plucking drying and sorting of Feathers in pulling beating working of Hempe in gathering of Cotten dyuers things right necessary for dying All which thinges are to bee found in those Countries most plentifully Hempe doth growe neere Saint Lawrence Riuer naturally And the men may imploy thēselues in draging for Pearle working for Mynes and in matters of husbandry and likewise in hunting the VVhale for traine and making Caskes to put the same in besides in fishing for Codde Salmon and Herring drying salting barrelling the same and felling of Trees hewing and sawing of them and such like woorke meete for those persons as are no men of arte or science Many other thinges may be founde to the greate reliefe and good emploiemnts of no small number of the naturall subiectes of this Realme which doo nowe liue heere ydlelie to the common annoy of the whole state Reade the beginning of the boke intituled diuers voyages touching the discouery of America Neither may I heere omitte the great hope and likely hoode of a passage by the Graunde bay into the South Seas confirmed by sundrie Aucthors to be founde leading to Cataia the Moluccos and Spiceries whereby may ensue as general a benefite to the Realme or greater then yet hath beene spoken off without eyther such charges or other inconueniences as by the redious tract of time perrill which the ordinarie passage to those partes at this day doth minister And to conclude this argument withall it is well knowne to all men of sounde iudgemēt that this voyage is of greater importaunce and will be founde more beneficiall to our Countrey then all other voyages at this day in vse and trade amongst vs. The fift Chapiter sheweth that the trading and planting in those Countries is likely to prooue to the perticuler profit of all the Aduenturers I Must nowe according to my promise shew forth some probable reasons that the aduenturers in this iourney are to take perticuler profite by the same It is therefore conuenient that I doo deuide the Aduenturers into two sortes The Noble men men and Gentlemen by themselues and the Marchaunts by themselues For as I doo heare it is meant that there shal be one societie of the Noble men Gentlemen and another society of the Marchants And yet not so deuided but that eache society may freely and franckly trade and traficke one with the other And first to bende my speeche to the Noblemen and Gentlemen who doo cheefely seeke a temperate climate holesome ayre fertile soyle and a strong place by nature wherevpon they may fortefie and there either plant themselues or such other persons as they shall thinke good to sende to be Lordes of that place and Country To them I say that all these thinges are very easye to be founde with in the degrees of 30. and 60. aforesayde eyther by Southe or North both in the Continent and in Islands therevnto adioyning at theyr choyse But the degree certaine of the cleuation of the Pole and the very Climate where these places of force and fertilitie are to be founde I omitte to make publique for such regarde as the wiser sort can easily coniecture the rather because I doo certainly vnderstād that some of those which haue the managing of this matter knowe it as well or better then I my selfe and doo meane to reueale the same when cause shall require to such persons whom it shall concerne and to no other So that they may seate settle thēselues in such Climate as shal best agree with their owne nature disposition good likeing in the whole tract of that land by the discription of as many as haue beene there great plentie of minerall matter of all sortes and in verye many places bothe stones of price Pearle and Christall and great store of Beastes Byrdes and Fowles both for pleasure and necessarie vse of man is to be founde And for such as take delight in hunting Beastes for pleasure there are Stagges VVild Bores Foxes Hares Conneys Badgers Otters diuers other such like for pleasure Also or such as haue delight in Hawking there are Hawkes of sundry kindes and great store of game both for Land and Riuer as Feazaunts Partridges Cranes Heronshawes Duckes Mallardes and such like There is also a kinde of Beaste much bigger then an Oxe whose hyde is more then 18. foote long of which sorte a Countriman of ours one VValker a Sea man who was vppon that Coast did for a trueth reporte in the presence of diuers honourable and worshipfull persons that he and his company did finde in one Cottage aboue 240. Hides which they brought away and solde in Fraunce for xl shillinges and hyde Hides solde for xl shillings apece and with this agreeth Dauid Ingram and discribeth that beast at large supposing it to be a certaine kinde of Buffe there are likewise beastes and fowles of diuers kindes which I omitte for breuities sake great store of fish both in the salt water in the fresh Great Grapes Wine of the Palm-tree plentie of Grapes as bigge as a mans thombe and the most delicate VVine of the Palmetree of which wine there be diuers of good credit in this realm haue tasted and there is also a kind of graine called Maize Potato rootes and sundry other fruites naturall growing there so that after such time as they are once setled they shall neede to take no great care for victuall And nowe for the better contentation satisfaction of such worshipful honest minded wel disposed Marchāts as haue a desire to the furtherance of euery good and commendable action I wil first say vnto thē as I haue doon before to the Noble men and Gentlemen that within the degrees aboue sayde is doubtles to be founde the moste holesom best tēpature of ayre fertillitie of soile euery other commoditie or marchaundize for the which with no smal perril we doo trauaill into Barbery Spayne Portingall Fraunce Italie Muscouie Dansike All which may be either presently had or at the least wise in verye shorte time procured from thence with lesse danger thē now we haue them And yet to the ende my argument shall not altogether stand vppon likelihoodes and presumptions I say that such persons as haue discouered and trauailed those partes doo testifie that they haue founde in those Countries all these things following namelie Of Beastes for furres Martens Beauers Foxes blacke and white Leoperdes Of VVormes Silke worms great large Of Byrdes Hawkes Bitters Curlewes Herons Partridges Cranes Mallards VVildgeese Stockdoues Margaus Blackbirds Parrotts Pengwyns Of Fishes Codd Salmon Seales Herrings Of Trees Palmetrees yeelding sweete wines Cedars Fyrres Sasafras Oake Elme
Popler And sundry other strange Trees to vs vnknowne Of Fruites Grapes verie large MuskemelloÌ„s Limons Dates great Orrenges Figges Proynes Reisons great and small Pepper Almonds Citrons Of Mettalles Golde Syluer Copper Leade Tinne Of Stones Turkeis Rubies Pearles great and faire Marble of diuers kinds Iasper Christall Sundry other commodities of all sortes Roâ—en Pitch Tarre Turpentine Frankensence Honny Waxe Rubarbe Oyle Oliffe Traine Oyle Musk codde Salte Tallowe Hydes Hempe Flaxe Chuchenellâ— and Dies of diuers sortes Feathers of sundry sorts as for pleasure and filling of Featherbeddes And seeing that for small costes the truth of these thinges may be vnderstoode wherof this intended supply wil giue vs more certaine assuraunce I doo find no cause to the contrarie but that all wel minded persons should be willing to aduenture some conuenient portion for the furtheraunce of so good an enterprise Now for the triall heereof considering that in the Articles of the Societie of the aduenturers in this voiage there is prouision made that no aduenturer shal be bound to any further charge then his first aduenture and yet notwithstanding keepe styl to himselfe his children his apprentises and seruants his and their freedome for trade traficke which is a priuiledge that Aduenturers in other voiages haue not and in the saide articles it is likewise prouided that none other then such as haue aduentured in the first voiage or shall become aduenturers in this supply at any time heerafter are to be admitted in the said society but as RedeÌ„ptionaries which wil be very chargeable Therefore generally I say vnto all such according to the old Prouerb Nothing venture Nothing haue For if it do so fal out according to the great hope expectation had as by Gods grace it wil the gaine which now they reape by traffique into other farre Countries shall by this trade returne with lesse charge greater gaine and more safety Lesse charge I say by reason of the ample and large deepe Riuers at the verie banke wherof there is many wherby both easily and quietly they may transport from the innermost partes of the maine land all kind of merchandize yea in Vessels of great burden that three times or twise in the yeere at the least But let vs omit all presumptions how vehement soeuer dwel vpon the certainty of such commodities as were discouered and found by Sir Humfrey Gilbert Commoâ—â—ties fouÌ„d in August last and his assistants in Newfound land in August last For there may be very easily made Pitch Tarre Rosen Soâ—e ashes in great plenty yea as it is thought inough to serue the whole Realme of euery of these kindes And of Traine Oyle such quaÌ„tity as if I should set downe the value that they doo esteeme it at which haue been there it would seeme incredible It is heerby intended that these commodities in this aboundaunt manner are not to be gathered from thence without Planting and setling there And as for other thinges of more value and that of more sortes and kinds then one or two which were likewise discouered there I doo hold it for some respects more meet for a time to be concealed and vttered Of the Fishing I doo speake nothing because it is generally known And it is not to be forgotteÌ„ what very trifles they be that the Sauages doo require in exchaunge of these commodities yea for Pearle Gold Siluer and precious stones All which are matters in trade and trasfique of great moment But admit that it shold so fal out that the aboue specified coÌ„modities shall not happely be found out within this first yeere Yet it is very cleere that such so many may be found out as shall minister iust occasion to thinke al cost labor well bestowed For it is very certaine that there is one seate fit for fortificatioÌ„ of great safety wherin these coÌ„modities following especially are to be had that is to say Grapes for wine Whales for oyle HeÌ„pe for cordage and other necessary thinges and Fish of farre greater sise and plenty then that of Newfound land and of all these so great store as may suffise to serue our whole Realme Besydes all this if credite may be giuen to the Inhabitaunts of the same Soyle a certaine Riuer dooth therevnto adioyne which leadeth to a place abounding with ritch substaunce I doo not heereby meane the passadge to the Mâ—luchâ—s whereof before I made mencion And it is not to be omitted howe that about two yeeres past certaine Marchaunts of S. Mallowes in Fraunce dyd hire a Shippe out of the Island of Iersey to the ende that they would keepe that trade secrete from theyr Countreimen and they would admit no Mariner other then the Ship boy belonging to the sayd Shippe to goe with them which Ship was about 70. Tunne I doo knowe the Ship and the boy very well and am familiarly acquainted with the Owner which voyage prooued very beneficiall To conclude this which is already saide may suffice any man of reasonable disposition to serue for a taste vntyll such tyme as it shall please almightie God through our owne industrie to send vs better tydings In the meane season if any man well affected to this iourney shal stand in doubt of any matter of importance touching the same he may satisfie himselfe with the iudgement and lyking of those of good calling and credite as are principall dealers heerein For it is not necessary in this treatise publickly to sette foorth the whole secretes of the voyage ¶ The sixt Chapter sheweth that the Traffique and Planting in those Countries shall be vnto the Sauages themselues verie beneficiall and gainefull NOw to the end it may appeare that this voiage is not vndertaken altogether for the peculiar commoditie of our selues and our Countrie as generallie other trades and iourneies be it shall fall out in proofe that the Sauages shal heerby haue iust cause to blesse the howre when this enterprise was vndertaken First and cheefly in respect of the most happy and gladsome tydings of the most glorious Gospel of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whereby they may be brought from falsehood to truth from darknes to lyght from the hieway of death to the path of life from superstitious idolatry to sincere christianity from the deuill to Christ from hell to Heauen And if in respect of all the commodities they can yeeld vs were they many moe that they should but receyue this only benefite of christianity they were more then fully recompenced But heervnto it may be obiected that the Gospel must be freely preached for such was the example of the Apostles vnto whom although the aucthorities and examples before alledged of Emperors Kings and Princes as wel before Christes time as since might sufficiently satisfie Yet for further aunswer we may say with Saint Paule If we we haue sowen vnto you heauenlie thinges 2. Cor. 9. doo you thinke it much that we should reape your carnall thinges And withall The workman is worthy of his hier
These heauenly tydings which those labourers our countrey men as messengers of Gods great goodnes and mercy wyl voluntarily present vnto them dooth farre exceed their earthly ritches Moreouer if the other inferior worldlie and temporall thinges which they shal receiue from vs be waied in equal balance I assure my selfe that by equall iudgement of any indifferent person the benefites which they then receiue shall far surmount those which they shall depart withall vnto vs. And admitte that they had as they haue not the knowledge to put theyr land to some vse Yet being brought from brutish ignoraunce to ciuility and knowledge and made them to vnderstand how the tenth part of their land may be so manured and emploied as it may yeeld more commodities to the necessary vse of mans life then the whole now dooth What iust cause of complaint may they haue And in my priuate opinion I doo verily think that God did create lande to the end that it shold by Culture and husbandrie yeeld things necessary for mans lyfe But this is not all the benefit which they shall receiue by the christians for ouer beside the knowledge how to tyl and dresse their grounds they shal be reduced frō vnseemly customes to honest maners from disordred riotous rowtes and companies to a wel gouerned common wealth with all shal be taught mecanicall occupations artes and lyberal Sciences and which standeth them most vpon they shal be defended from the cruelty of their tyrannicall blood sucking neighbors The bargaine can not be vniust where both parties are gainers the Canniballes wherby infinite number of their liues shal be preserued And lastly by this meanes many of their poore innocent children shal be preserued from the bloody knife of the sacrificer a most horrible and detestable custome in the sight of God man now and euer heertofore vsed amongst them Many other thinges could I heere alledge to this purpose were it not that I doo feare least I haue already more then halfe tired the Reader The seauenth Chapter sheweth that the Planting there is not a matter of such charge or diffycultie as many would make it seeme to be NOw therefore for proofe that the Planting in these parts is a thing that may be doone without the aide of the Princes power and purse contrarye to the allegation of many malicious persons who will neither be actors in any good action themselues nor so much as afoord a good word to the setting forward therof and that wurse is they wyl take vpō them to make Molehylles seeme Mountaines and flies Elephants to the end they may discourage others that be verye well or indifferently affected to the matter being like vnto Esoppes Dogge which neither would eate haie himself nor suffer the poore hungry asse to feede thereon I say affirme that God hath prouided such meanes for the furtheraunce of this enterprise as doth stande vs in steede of great treasure for first by reason that it hath pleased God of his great goodnesse of long time to holde his merciful hād ouer this Realme in preseruing the people of the same both frō flaughter by the sword great deathby plague pestilēce or otherwise there is at this day great nūbers God he knoweth which liue in such penurie wāt as they could be contented to hazarde their liues and to serue one yeere for meate drinke and apparel onely without wages in hope thereby to amend theyr estates which is a matter in such lyke iourneis of no small charge to the Prince Moreouer thinges in the lyke iourneis of greatest price and cost as victual whereof there is great plenty to bee had in that countrye without money and powder great artillery or Corselets are not needful in so plentiful and chargeable manner as the shew of such a iourney may present for a smal quantity of all these to furnish the Forte onely wyl suffice vntyl such time as diuers cōmodities may be found out in those parts which may be thought wel woorthy a greater charge Also the peculiar benefite of Archers which God hath blessed this land withal before al other nations will stand vs in great stede amongst those naked people Another helpe we haue also which in such lyke cases is a matter of meruailous cost and wil be in this iourney procured very easily that is to say To transport yeerely as wel our people as al other necessaries needful for thē into those parts by the Fleete of Merchaunts that yeerely venture for Fish in Newfound Land being not farre distaunt from the countrey meant to be inhabited who commonly go with empty Vesselles in effect sauing some lyttle fraught with Salt And thus it appeareth that the Souldiers wages and the transportation may be defrayed for farre lesse summes of money then the detractors of this enterprise haue giuen out Againe this intended voiage for conquest hath in lyke manner many other singular priuiledges wherewith God hath as it were with his holy hand blessed the same before all others For after once we are departed the coast of England we may passe straight way thether without daunger of being driuen into any the countries of our enimies or doubtfull freends for commonly one winde serueth to bring vs thether which sildome faileth from the middle of Ianuarie to the middle of Maie a benefite which the Mariners make great account off for it is a pleasure that they haue in few or none of the other iournies Also the passadge is short for we may go thither in thirty or forty daies at the most hauing but an indifferent winde and returne continually in sixteene or twenty dayes at the most And in the same our iourney by reason it is in the Occean and quite out of the way frō the intercourse of other countries we may safely trade and traffique without perill of pyracie neither shal our Ships people or goods ther be subiecte to the arrest or molestation of any Pagan Potentate Turkishe Tyrant yea or christiā Prince which heertofore sometimes vpon slender occasion in other parts haue staied our Shippes and marchaundizes whereby great numbers of our Countrimen haue beene vtterly vndoone dyuers put to raunsome yea and some lost their liues a thing so fresh in memory as it needeth no proofe and well worthy of consideration Besides in this voyage we doo not crosse the burnt line whereby commonly both beuerage and victuall are corrupted and mens health very much impaired neither doo we passe the frozen Seas which yeelde sundrye extreme daungers but haue a temperate Climate at all times of the yeere to serue our turnes And lastly there neede no delaies by the way for taking in of freshwater and Fewell a thing vsually doone in long iourneys because as I said aboue the voyage is not long and the fresh waters taken in there our men heere in England at theyr returne home haue found so holesome and sweete that they haue made choise to drinke it before our Beere or
A TRVE REPORTE Of the late discoueries and possession taken in the right of the Crowne of Englande of the New-found Landes By that valiaunt and worthye Gentleman Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight Wherein is also breefely sette downe her highnesse lawfull Tytle therevnto and the great and manifolde Commodities that is likely to grow thereby to the whole Realme in generall and to the Aduenturers in particular Together with the easines and shortnes of the Voyage Seene and allowed At London Printed by I. C. for Iohn Hinde dwelling in Paules Church-yarde at the signe of the golden Hinde Anno. 1583. To the Right Honourable Sir Fraunces Walsingham Knight principall Secretarie to the Queene her most excellent Maiestie HOW much more happie might I account my selfe right honourable Sir if I had so well applied my time in this Vniuersitie as through my more dilligent studye I were able to handle the matter which I haue in this Treatise taken vppon me as the worthynes thereof dooth meryte Truely Sir I was for a time drawen into a doubtfull ballaunce whether I should proceede therein as my affection intised me or leaue it off as good discretion aduised mee Eftsoones haue I righte hartely wished that some of those rype and perfect witts adorned with like iudgement wherewith God hath plentifully blessed this our age woulde haue imploied their pennes learnedly to haue sette foorth thys cause But seeing that in wishing I doo fynde nothing but to wish and that the case so standeth as eyther the thyng right woorthye bothe knowledge and practise shall styll lie in a slumber or rather rest buryed in the graue of obliuion vnlesse I doo make publique my weaknesse and insufficiencye and therby subiect my selfe to the diuersitye of mens iudgements I haue made choyse rather to indure the disgrace of the one then that my Countrey shoulde sustaine the inconuenience of the other trusting that your honour who hath hetherto beene a principall Patron of this Action will vpon my humble sute vouchsafe your fauourable protection heereof For wee doo reade right honourable that Archimedes in respecte of his grauitie and wisedome helde that reputation amongst the Syracusans that whatsoeuer he allowed was accounted for good which historye if I shoulde apply vnto your honour perticularlie as both aptlie and truely I could I might in the opinion of some men incurre the suspition of flattery and receiue from your Honour but the like aunswer which King Theseus made vnto blind Oedipus I doo not quoth hee O Oedipus honour my selfe with other mens words but with mine owne works In silence therefore will I passe your ready and vertuous disposition bothe honourably to fauour and fauourably to further all such attemptes as seeme pleasing to GOD and profitable to your Countrey both which by the testimony of good writers the opininion of wise men and experience of great trauailors these VVesterne Discoueries doo certainly promise In regarde whereof I doo the rather presume to preferre this Pampflet to bee Patronized by so woorthy a personne whereby my escapes may bee the more easilye excused my willing paynes the better accepted and the voyage more effectually supplyed Thus beeing lothe any longer to detayne your honour from your weightye affayres I humblye take leaue beseeching GOD manie yeeres to lengthen your life with much encrease of honour From my lodging in Oxforde the tweluth of Nouember Your Honours poore Scholler in all seruice to vse G. P. ⧠The Table of the Chapters containing the principall matters in this Booke 1 The first Chapiter wherein the Argument of the Booke is contayned 2 The seconde Chapiter sheweth that it is lawfull necessary to trade and traficke with the Sauages And to plant in theyr Countreys And deuideth planting into two sortes 3 The third Chapiter dooth shewe the lawfull Title which the Queenes most excellent Maiestie hath vnto those Countreys which through the ayde of almighty GOD are to be inhabited 4 The fourth Chapiter sheweth how that the trade traficke and planting in those Countreys is likely to prooue very profitable to the whole Realme in generall 5 The fift Chapiter sheweth that the trading and planting in those Countryes is likely to prooue to the perticuler profit of all the Aduenturers 6 The sixt Chapiter sheweth that the traficke and planting in those Countryes shall bee vnto the Sauages themselues very beneficiall and gainfull 7 The seauenth Chapiter sheweth that the planting there is not a matter of such charge or diffyculty as many woulde make it seeme to bee 8 The Contents of Articles of Assuraunce between the Principal assignes of Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight the foure sortes of Aduenturers with them in the voyage for the VVesterne Discoueries The ende of the Table ⧠Sir William Pelham Knight in commendation of the discourse following LIke as the Fishes breeding in the deepe Through all the Ocean are allowed to raung Nor forst in any certaine boundes to keepe But as their motions carry them to chaung To men like libertie dooth reason giue In choise of soile through all the world to liue To valiaunt mindes each land is a natiue soile and vertue findes no dwelling place amis Regard of honour measures not the toyle To seeke a seat wherein contentment is That seat that soile that dwelling place of rest In this discourse most liuelie is exprest Our forren neighbours bordring hard at hand Haue found it true to many a thousands gaine And are inritcht by this abounding land While pent at home like sluggardâ—s we remaine But though they haue to satisfie their will Inough is left our cofers yet to fill Then England thrust among them for a share Since title iust and right is wholie thine And as I trust the sequell shall declare Our lucke no worse then theirs before hath beene For where the attempt on vertue dooth depend No doubt but God will blesse it in the ende VVilliam Pelham ⧠Sir Fraunces Drake Knight in commendation of this Treatise WHho seekes by worthie deedes to gaine renowme for hire VVhose hart whose haÌ„d whose purse is prest to purchase his desire If anie such there bee that thristeth after Fame Lo heere a meane to winne himselfe an euerlasting name VVho seekes by gaine and wealth t' aduaunce his house and blood VVhose care is great whose toile no lesse whose hope is all for good If anie one there bee that couettes such a trade Lo heere the plot for common weath and priuate gaine is made Hee that for vertues sake will venture farre and neere VVhose zeale is strong whose practize trueth whose faith is void of feere If any such there bee inflamed with holie care Heere may hee finde a readie meane his purpose to declare So that for each degree this Treatise dooth vnfolde The path to Fame the proofe of zeale and way to purchase golde Fraunces Drake M. Iohn Hawkins his opinion of this intended Voyage IF zeale to God or countries care with priuate gaines accesse Might serue for spurs vnto th' attempt this
hauing before sent priuie spyes for the discouery of the famous Cittie Ierico to vnderstand the certaintie of the Cittizens estate Iosua 6. he foorth with came thether and enuironed it rounde aboute with his whole power the space of seuen dayes In which respite perceiuing none of the Gentiles disposed to yeeld or call for mercie he then commaunded as God before had appointed that both the Cittie Iericho should be burned yea and all the inhabitaunts as well olde as young with all their cattell should be destroied onelie excepted Rahab her kindred and Familie because she before had hid secretly the messengers of Iosua that were sent thether as spies As for all their golde siluer precious stones or vesselles of brasse they were reserued and consecrated to the Lords treasurie In like manner he burned the cittie Hay Iosua 8. slew the inhabitants thereof and hanged vp their King But for so much as the Gebionites fearing the like euent sent Ambassadors vnto Iosua to intreate for grace fauour and peace he commaunded that all their liues should be saued and that they should be admitted to the companie of the children of Israel Iosua 9. Yet vnderstanding afterwards they wrought this by a pollicie he vsed them as drudges to hewe wood to carie water and other necessaries for his people Thus beganne this valiaunt Captaine his conquest which he pursued and neuer left till he had subdued all the Hethites Amorites Cananites Pheresites Heuites and Iebusites with all their Princes and Kings Iudg. 11. 13 being thirtie and one in number and diuers other straunge Nations besides whose lands and dominions he wholie deuided among Gods people After that Iosua was deceased Iuda was constituted Lord ouer the Armie who receiuing like charge from God pursued the proceedings of the holie Captaine Iosua and vtterlie vanquished many Gentiles Idolaters and aduersaries to the children of Israel Iudg. 1. with all such Rulers or Kings as withstoode him and namely Adonibezek the most cruell tyraunt whose thombes and great toes he caused to be cut off A good not for all Conquerers to be mercifull for so much as he had doon the like before vnto seuēty Kings whome being his prisoners he forced to gather vp their victualles vnderneath his Table In this God shewed his iustice to reuenge tyranny We reade likewise that Gedeō a most puissant noble warrior so behaued himself in following the woorthy actes of Iosua and Iuda Iudg. 6. 7. That in short time he not onely deliuered the children of Israel frō the hands of the multitude of the fierce Madianites but also subdued them and their Tyrants whose landes he caused Gods people to possesse and inherite I could recite diuers other places out of the Scripture which aptly may be applied heervnto were it not I do endeuour my selfe by all meanes to be breefe Now in like manner will I alledge some few of Inductions out of the autenticall writings of the Ecclesiasticall Historiographers all tending to the like argument And first to begin with all we doo reade That after our sauiour Iesus Christ had suffered his passion The apostles being inspired with the holy Ghost India the great was not preached vnto by the Apostles Metrodorus the Philosopher the fyrst discouerer of India the great and the knowledge of all straunge languages did immediatly dispearse themselues to sundrie partes of the world to the preaching of the Gospell Yet not in so generall a manner but that there remained some farre remote Coūtries vnuisited by them amōg the which it is reported that India the great called the vttermost India as yet had receiued no light of the word But it came to passe that one Metrodorus a verie learned and wise Philosopher in that age being desirous to search out vnknowne landes did first discouer the same finding it wonderful populous and rich which vppon his returne being published and for certaine vnderstoode there was another graue Philosopher of Tyrus called Meropius Meropius being a christian who did resolue himselfe folowing the example of Metrodorus to trauaile thether and in a short time assisted but with a fewe in a small Vessell arriued there hauing in his company two young youthes Edesius and Frumētius Edesius and Frumentius whome being his schollers he had throughly instructed both in lyberall Sciences and christian Religion Now after that Meropius somewhile staying there had as he thought sufficient vnderstanding of the Indians whole estate He determined to depart and to bring notice thereof vnto the Emperor whom he meant to exhort to the conquest of the same But by misfortune he was preuēted for being in the middest of his course on the Sea homeward a sore tempest arose and perforce droue him backe againe to an vnknowne Port of the saide lande where he by the most cruell barbarous Indians on the suddaine was slaine with all his company Meropius slaine except the two young schollers aforesaide whome the barbarous Indians by reason they were of comely stature and beautifull personages tooke and foorth with presented them to their King and Queene Edisius and Frumentius preserued by the Indians which both being verie well lyked of the King courteously entreated and ordeined Edesius to be his Butler and Frumentius his Secretary and in few yeeres by reason of their learning and ciuill gouernement they were had in great fauour honour and estimation with the Princes But the King departing this life left the Queene his wife with her young sonne to gouerne and gaue free scope and lybertie to the two christians at their best pleasure to passe to their natiue soyles allowing them all necessaries for the same Yet the Queene who highly fauoured them was verie sorowful they should depart and therefore most earnestlie intreated them to tarie and assist her in the gouernement of her people tyll such tyme as her young Soone grewe to type yeeres which request they fulfilled And Frumentius excelling Edesius farre in all wisedome Frumentius in great fauour with the Queene of the Indians ruled both the Queene and her subiects at his discretion whereby he tooke occasion to put in practise priuilie that the foundation of christian religion might be planted in the hearts of such as with whome he thought his perswasion might best preuaile and that soonest would giue eare vnto him which being brought to passe accordingly he then with his fellow Edesius An other great work of God begun by a man of meane birth tooke leaue of the Queene to returne to his natiue countrie And so soone as he was arriued there he reuealed to the Emperor Constantine the effect of all those euents who both commending his deeds and wholie allowing thereof by the aduise and good liking of Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria did arme and set foorth a conuenient power for the aide of Frumentius in this his so godlie a purpose Ruffinus the Author of this storye And by this meanes came the
Ale Beholde heere good Countreimen the manifolde benefites commodities and pleasures heeretofore vnknowne by Gods especiall blessing not onelie reuealed vnto vs but also as it were infused into our bosomes who though hetherto like Dormise haue slumbered in ignoraunce thereof beeing like the Cattes that are lothe for theyr praye to wette their feete yet if now therefore at the last we would awake and with willing mindes setting friuolous imaginations aside become industrious instruments to our selues Questionles we shoulde not onely heereby setfoorth the glorie of our heauenlie Father but also easily attaine to the ende of all good purposes that may be wished or desired And may it not much encourage vs to hope for good successe in the countrey of these Sauages beeing a naked kinde of people voyde of the knowledge of the discipline of warre seeing that a Noble man beeing but a subiecte in this Realme in the time of our King Henrie the second by name Strangbowe theÌ„ Earle of Chepstowe in South VVales by himselfe and his Alleis and assistaunts at their owne proper charges passed ouer into Ireland and there made conquest of the nowe Countrey and then kingdom of Lyâ—â—ster at which time it was verie populous strong which historie our owne Chronicles doo witnes And why should we be dismaide more then were the Spaniardes who haue beene able within these fewe yeeres to conquer possesse and enioy so large a tracte at the earth in the west Indies as is betweene the two Tropicks of CaÌ„cer and Capricorne not onely in the maine firme lande of America which is 47. degrees in latitude froÌ„ South to North doth coÌ„tain 2820. English miles at the least that the King of Spayne hath there in actual possession besides many goodly rich Islands as Hispaniola now called Sa Domingo Cuba Iamica and diuers other which are bothe beautifull and full of treasure not speaking anie whitt at all how large the saide Lande is from East to VVest which in some places is accounted to be 1500. English miles at the least from East to VVest betweene the one Sea and the other Or why should our Noble nation be dismaide more then was Vasques Numes de Balboa 2. Dâ—cad lib. 5. fo 77. of the West Indes in English Canoâ—s is a kinde of boate 3. Decad. lib. 1. fol. â—7 a priuate Gentleman of Spayne who with the number of 70. Spaniardes at Tichâ—ri gaue an ouerthrow vnto that mightie King Chemacchus hauing an Armie of an hundred Canoas 5000. men and the say de Vasques Numes not long after with his small number did put to flight King Chiapes his whole Armie Likewise Hernando Cortese beeing also but a priuate Gentleman of Spayne About the yeere of our Lord 1511. after his departure from the Islands of Cuba and Acusamill and entring into the firme of America had many most victorious triumphant conquests as that at Cyntla where beeing accompanied with lesse theÌ„ 500. Spanish footemen Conquest of the West Indes fol. 43 and 45. in English thirteene Horsemen and sixe peeces of Ordenaunce onely he ouerthrewe 40000 Indians The same Cortese with his sayde number of Spaniardes tooke prisoner that mightie Emperour Meterâ—ma in his most cheefe and famous Cittie of Mexico which at that instant had in it aboue the number of 500000 Indians at the least and in short time after obteyned not onelie the quiet possession of the saide Cittie But also of his whole Empire And in like manner in the Country of Peru which the King of Spayne hath nowe in actual possession Francisco Pysare with the onelie ayde of Diego de Almagro and Hernando Luche beeing all three but priuate Gentlemen was the principall person that first attempted the discouerie and conquest of the large and rich Countrye of Peru which through the ayde of the almighty he brought to passe and atchiued in the Tambo of Cassiamalcha which is a large place of ground enclosed with walles in which place he tooke the great and mightye Prince Attabalipa prisoner A meruelous victorie amidest the number of 60000 Indians his subiectes which were euer before that day accounted to bee a warlike kinde of people which his great victory it pleased God to graunt vnto him in the yeere of our Lorde 1533. he not hauing in his company aboue the number of 210. Spaniardes whereof there was not past 60 horsemen in all After the taking of which Prince Attabalipa he offered vnto Pyzare for his raunsome to fill a great large Hall ful of Golde and Siluer and such Gold and Siluer vessels as they then vsed euen as hie as a man might reache with his arme And the sayd Prince caused the same Hall to bee marked rounde about at the sayde height which raunsome Pyzara graunted to accept And after when as thys mightie Prince had sent to his vassals subiects to bring in Golde and Siluer for the filling of the Hal as aforesaid as namelie to the Citties or Townes of Quito Pacyacama and Cusco as also to the Caloa of Lyma in which Towne as their owne writers doo affyrme they founde a large and fayre house all sâ—ated and couered with â—olde and when as the said Hal was not yet a quarter full a mutenye arose amongst the Spaniardes in which it was commonly giuen out that the said Prince had politiquely offered this great raunsome vnder pretence to rayse a much more mightie power whereby the Spaniardes should bee taken slayne and ouerthrowne wherevppon they grewe to this resolution to put the sayd Prince to death and to make particion of the gold and siluer already brought in which they presently put in execution And comming to make perfect Inuentory of the same as well for the Emperor then King of Spayne his fift parte as otherwise there was founde to be already brought in into the sayde Hall the number of 132425. pounde weight of siluer and in golde the number of 1828125. pezos A pezo is worth vii s. vi d. English which was a ritches neuer before that nor since seene of any man together of which there did appertaine to the Emperor for his fyft parte of Golde 365625. pezos for his fift parte of siluer 26485. pound weight to euery Horseman 8000. pezos of gold and 67 pounde weight of siluer Euery Soldier had 4550. pezos of golde and 280. pounde weight of siluer Enety Captain had some 30000. some 20000. pezos of golde and of siluer propottionally aunswerable to theyr degrees and calling according to the rate agreed vpon amongst them Se the History of the West Indies in French the xiii booke fol. 138. some part whereof is translated into English Fraunces Pizare as their General according to his degree and calling proportionally had more then any of the rest ouer and besides the Massie table of gold which Attahalipa had in his Lyttier which wayed 25000. pezos of Golde neuer was there before that day Soldiers so riche in so small a time
of the perticuler discoueries and conquestes of the East and west Indies wherein I was the more bolde to vrge the patience of the Reader to the ende it might most manifestly and at large appeare to all such as are not acquainted with the Histories howe the King of Portingall whose Country for popularity and number of people is scarce comparable to some three shires of Englande And the King of Spayne likewise whose naturall Countrey dooth not greatly abounde with people Both which Princes by meanes of theyr discoueries within lesse then 90. yeeres past haue as it appeareth both mightely and meruailouslie enlarged theyr territories dominions through theyr owne industrie by the assistance of the omnipotēt whose ayde we shall not neede to doubt seeing the cause quarrell which we take in hand tendeth to his honour and glory by the enlargement of the Christian fayth To conclude since by christian duety we stand bounde cheefely to further all such acts as doo tende to the encreasing the true flocke of Christ by reducing into the right way those loste sheepe which are yet astray And that wee shall therein followe the example of our right vertuous predicessors of renowmed memory and leaue vnto our posteritie a deuice memoriall of so godly an enterprise Let vs I say for the considerations alledged enter into iudgement with our selues whether this action may belong to vs or no. The rather for that this voyage through the mighty assistaunce of the omnipotent God shal take our desired effect whereof there is no iust cause of doubt Then shall her Maiesties dominions be enlarged her highnes auncient titles iustly confyrmed all odious ydlenes from this our Realme vtterly banished Diuers decayed Townes repay red and many poore and needy persons relieued and estates of such as nowe liue in want shal be embettered The ignorant barbarous Idolaters taught to knowe Christ. The innocent defended from their bloodie tyrannicall neighbours The diabolicall custome of sacrifycing humaine Creatures abolished All which no man doubteth are thinges gratefull in the sight of our Sauiour and tending to the honour and glory of the Trinitie Be of good cheere therefore for he that can not erre hath sayd That before the ende of the world his word shall bee preached to all nations Which good worke I trust is reserued for our Nation to accomplish in these partes Wherefore my deere Countrimen be not dismayed for the power of God is nothing diminished nor the loue that he hath to the preaching and planting of the Gospell any whirt abated Shall we then doubt he will be lesse ready most mightily and miraculously to assist our Nation in this quarrel which is cheefely and principally vndertaken for the enlargement of the christian fayth abroade and the banishment of ydlenes at home then he was to Columnus Vasques Numes Hernand◠Cortese and Fraunces Pyzare in the west and Vasques de Game Peter Aluares Alonso de Alburqueque in the East Let vs therefore with cheerefull mindes and couragious hearts giue the attempt and leaue the sequell to almightye God for if he be on our part what forceth it who be against vs. Thus leauing the correction reformation vnto the gentle Reader whatsoeuer is in this Treatise too much or too little or otherwise vnperfect I take leaue and so ende FINIS ⧠The Contentes of the Articles of Assuraunce betweene the Principall assignes of Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight and the foure sortes of aduenturers vvith them in the veyage for the Westerne Discoueries Assocyates which be such as aduēture C. l Assystants which be such as aduēture L. l Aduenturers in the first degree which be such as aduēture XX. v. l Aduenturers in the second degree which be such as aduēture Xii l x. s EVery person which hath aduentured in money or commodities with Sir Humfrey Gilbert Knight The ratification of former Aduenturers or with any principall assigne from him shal haue and enioy all such Lands Liberties Freedomes Priueleges and commodities as to any of them hath beene graunted or couenaunted by the said Sir Humfrey or by any principall assigne in writing to bee shewed vnder his or theyr handes and seales So as he hath or shall deliuer in all his aduenture before the last day of December next And euery person which hath aduentured himselfe in the last voyage Rewards to such as haue aduentured in person in the last voyage Associates continued in the same vntil such time as the admirall of the sayd voyage was lost and will aduenture himselfe in this next voyage shall in recompence haue his rate doubled EVerie person that shall aduenture in this next voyage in money or commodityes the some of one hundreth poundes and receyued by the treasurer agent or other person authorised to bee kept in a Store-house prouided for that purpose shal beare the name of an associate he his heires and fower of his seruaunts seruing him seuen yeeres to haue free libertie to trade and trafique in the said Countries And shall haue a iust portion accordyng to the quantity of his aduenture of al commodities gotten retourned into England by any the Vessels which shall be set forth by the sayde principall assigne before the twenteth of March next in Anno 1583. He shall haue to him and his heyres for euer sixteene thousand acres of Land there to bee peopled and manured at his pleasure holding the same in socage tenner by Fealtie onely with aucthoritie to keepe Court Leete and Court Barron vppon the same at his pleasure with as great roialties in as large ample maner as any Associate there or other Subiect in this Realme now enioyeth any landes in England Hee to bee chosen for one of the cheefest persons for making of Lawes there And shall be free frō all arrestes tortures and execution by Marshall Lawe Yeelding and paying yeerely tenne shillinges for euerye thousand acres after the same shall bee possessed and occupyed one whole yeere and to the Queenes maiestie the fift part of Golde and Syluer Ower which shall bee cleerely gotten one other fift part of Golde Syluer Ower Pearle and Precious stones to Sir Humfrey Gylbert and his heires and to the principall assigne the like fift part also one fift part of Christall to the said principal assigne to be found and clearely gotten vpon the same sixteene thousand acres There shal be leuied within three yeeres after the sayd Land shal be inhabited for euery acre manured on halfepeny yeerely for the building of Fortes Townes Churches Shippes maintenaunce of learning and Soldiers and releeuing of maimed persons c. to bee bestowed and imploied at the discretion of the principall Assigne and his heyres the Lieftenaunt and Associate there for the time beeing EVery parson aduenturing as aforesaid the some of fifty poundes Assistants shall beare the name of an Assistant he and his heires males and three of his seruaunts seruing him seuen yeeres to haue free liberty to trade as in the first